Car-truck bolster



(No Model.)

B. P. GOLTRA. GAB TRUCK BOLSTER.

Patented July 3-0, 1895.

UNITED STATES PATENT O FICE.

EDWARD F. GOLTRA, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

- CAR-TRUCK BOLSTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent No. 543,621, dated July 30,1895.

Application filed $eptemher 2, 1893 Serial No. 484,642. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD F. GOLTRA, of St. Louis, Missouri, have madea new and useful Improvement in Oar-Truck Bolsters, of which thefollowingis a full, clear, and exact description.

The improvement consists in the special construction, substantially asis hereinafter set forth and claimed, aided by the annexed drawings,making part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a plan of theimproved bolster; Fig. 2, a bottom view of the same; Fig.3, a centralvertical longitudinal section, upon an enlarged scale, of a portion ofthe bolster;

' Fig. 4, a vertical cross-section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 5a vertical cross-section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1.

The same letters of reference denote the same parts.

The body of the improvedbolster consists substantially of a pair oflongitudinally-extended parallel or substantially parallel girders A A,suitably connected to form a rigid structure. At its ends respectivelythe bolster-body is provided with or constructed to form suitablespring-seats B B.

0 represents the center bearing and D D the side bearings, which aresustained by the bolster-body. The bearings may be of any suitable shapeconsistent with the nature of the improved construction, and they may beattached to or connected with the girders in any desirable manner. Theyalso,- in conjunction with the arms c, which unite them to the girders,preferably serve to brace and connect the girders. Other connections maybe employed-for instance, the ends E E, which unite the girders at theends of the bolster-and between the ends of the bolsterbody othertiesfor instance, the cross-ribs F F and G Gr-may be employed to connectthe girders.

I At each end of the bolster-body the parts E and F (E and F) mayunitedly form a pocket I) for the usual bolster-spring.

The cross-ties referred to may assume any desirable form incross-section, and the side bearings and also the center bearing may, incross-section, be of any approved shape.

I prefer for the various parts named the shapes respectively shown; andI preferably make the entire bolster, including the girders, thebearings, and the cross connections, a single integral casting. By thismeans a bolster of sufficient strength,but light in weight as comparedwith the ordinary bolster, is obtained, for it will be seen the top orweb heretofore employed in bolsters in the=class under consideration issubstantially omitted, save that the center and side bearings, so far asthey go, substantially take its place. .In'

with the bolster-bearing or any portion of the 1 bolster top or web, butto have said parts serve as ties only; but for casting purposes it isbetter to have them integral with the girders. Accordingly, whiledirectly integral with the girders they are separate from thebolster-bearings or other portion of the bolster top or web. In carryingout this feature of the improvement, the ties referred to may bearranged at any preferred elevation upon the girders, and they may bedirectly under the bolter-bearings or other portion of the bolster topor web, or they may be arranged out of line vertically with the bearingsor top portions. I prefer the last-named arrangement, as thereby thebolster may be more readily made, and I prefer to arrange the ties welldown upon the girders, all substantially as shown.

So far as the last-named feature of the improvement is concerned-namely,the separation of the girder-ties from the bolster top or web-thebolster-bearings may be attached either directly to the girders or to atop or web,which in turn is attached to the girder. The girders arepreferably thickened or flanged at the lower portion thereof, as shownat a, in case increased carrying capacity is required. A leading featureof the improvement is the provision for largely, if not entirely,obviating the need of reinforcing the girders, especially at the middlelower portion thereof, to prevent cracks or checks therein when thebolster is a castin This is accomplished by omitting from the bolsterany top or web, or so much thereof as may be necessary, and therebydoing away with an element which, in other forms of cast bolsters in theclass under consideration, operates,in the founding of the bolster, tostrain the girderat the lower part thereof and cause the cracks andchecks referred to. The present bolster, as seen, is substantially askeleton one. With the exception of the bearings and spring-seats,nothing answering to a top or web is shown, and practically the girdersare free to shrink in cooling. Owing to this omission of a top or web itbecomes desirable to employ cross ties or ribs to connect the girdersbelow the level of the bearings, and for this purpose the ties Fand G,above mentioned, answer acceptably.

I have further ascertained, in the construction of car-truck bolsters inwhich sides or girders and a top provided with projections for or inconnection with the usual bearings are used and all in the form of anintegral casting, that there is difficulty in forming the bolster top orweb when underneath brackets, corner-pieces, or cross-ribs integral withsaid top or web, as well as with said side or girder, are employed. Thetop or web in cooling shrinks excessively, and this necessary shrinkingis interfered with when the top or web has integral projections on itsunder as well as upon its upper side. Accordingly, I separate thecross-pieces F G, 650., from any portion of the overhead web or top. Theadvantage of this feature of the improvement increases with the lengthof the top or web. The preferable form of girder is shown, it beingstraight, or substantially straight, at its upper edge, and its loweredge being curved downward, and the girder being deepest at its center.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a cast car truck bolster, the combination of the girders, centerbearing, and cross ties, said girders, bearing and cross ties beingintegral and said cross ties being integral with said girders but beingseparate from said hearing or other portion of the bolster top or web,substantially as described.

2. A skeleton car truck bolster consisting of girders, center bearing,side bearings and cross ties connecting the girders, the cross tiesbeing separated from the bearings by intervening spaces, said partsbeing integral throughout.

3. A skeleton car truck bolster, consisting of girders, center bearing,side bearings and cross ties connecting the girders, the cross tiesbeing separated from the bearings by intervening spaces, and themselvesconsisting of vertical bracket webs, said parts being integralthroughout.

4.. A skeleton car truck bolster, consisting of girders, center bearing,side bearings and cross ties connecting the girders, the cross tiesbeing separated from the hearing by intervening spaces, and the girdersbeing flanged at their lower edges, said parts being integralthroughout.

5. A skeleton car truck bolster consisting of girders carrying centerbearing, side bearings and distance tie pieces, said girders be ingribbed or flanged longitudinally, and deeper toward their middle than attheir ends.

6. A skeleton bolster, consisting of girders, center bearing, and sidebearings, and supportin arms extending from the girders and sustainingthe center bearing.

7. A skeleton bolster composed of girders, center bearing, sidebearings, and transverse tie pieces which connect the girders but notthe center and side bearings, the girders tapering upwardly from theirmiddle toward their ends. I

8. A skeleton bolster composed of girders, center bearing, sidebearings, and transverse tie pieces which connect the girders but notthe center and side bearin gs, the girders tapering upwardly from theirmiddle toward their ends, and being flanged at their lower edges.

9. A skeleton bolster composed of girders, center bearing, sidebearings, and transverse tie pieces which connect the girders but notthe center and side bearings, the girders tapering from their middletoward their ends.

10. A skeleton bolster composed of girders, center bearing, sidebearings, and transverse tie pieces which connect the girders but notthe center and side bearings, the girders tapering from their middletoward their ends, and being ribbed or flanged.

11. A skeleton frame for car bolsters, consisting of girders, flanged orribbed longitudinally and carrying center and side hearings, incombination with auxiliary distancing means uniting said girders andspacing them apart.

In testimony whereof I ai'fix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

EDWARD F. GOLTRA.

Witnesses:

O. D. MOODY, WM. H. DELAcv.

